They went to a nice restaurant for lunch, which seemed to please Aunt Karen. "Back in the days when it still mattered to him," she said when her nephew turned into the restaurant's parking lot, "your Uncle Dave brought me here once. I've always wanted to come back, but until now I never have had the chance."
"I'm glad I brought you, then," Tommy said. He parked in the restaurant's parking lot, got out, and went around to open the door for his aunt. He was feeling chivalrous today. If he couldn't have the woman he wanted, he could treat the ones who wanted him well.
"My, aren't you the gentleman today?" his aunt commented as she slid out of the car. She laughed. "With your money, you'll be able to hire someone to chauffeur you around and open doors for you."
"I don't think I'd like that," Tommy said as they walked into the restaurant. "Actually, the fewer people who know about my money, the better. I don't want to change."
"Two for lunch?" the maitre de asked.
"Yes," Tommy said.
The man gave Aunt Karen an approving look, even though Tommy was the one he was talking to.
"Smoking or non-smoking?" the man asked.
"Non-smoking," Tommy replied.
The maitre de nodded and said, "Of course. Please, follow me." They were seated and handed menus. "Your waiter will be Robert," the man said, pronouncing the name "Rob-bair." "He will be with you in just a moment."
"'Row-bear', huh?" Tommy said. "I don't think I've ever known my waiter's name before."
"You better get used to it," Karen told him. "In places like this, that's standard. Especially for regulars."
"I don't have any intention of becoming a regular here," Tommy told her. "I just thought, because today is special, and because you look so pretty, I'd take you someplace special."
"Flatterer," his aunt said. She began looking at the menu. "My word! Look at these prices!"
"Not to worry," Tommy told her. "I'm a man of means now, remember?"
"Still," she went on, "five dollars for a hamburger! I don't care if they do call it a 'chopped sirloin open-faced sandwich'."
"Yeah, but it comes with the salad bar and coffee," Tommy said.
"I don't care," his aunt said firmly, "it's too much to pay for a hamburger."
"I'm having poached salmon," Tommy said. "What are you having?"
"I think I'm going to have Chicken Divan," his aunt replied. "I didn't know you liked fish."
He shrugged and said, "I've never had poached salmon. Today seems like as good a time as any to try something different."
Karen laughed. "Yes, I guess it is," she said.
Lunch went extremely well. The food was fantastic, and Robert was an attentive and pleasant waiter. Tommy left him a huge tip.
"How much did you tip him?" Karen asked as they walked out to the car.
"I don't know," Tommy said, "ten bucks, I think."
"My God!" his aunt exclaimed. "That's way more than necessary."
Tommy held the door for her and she slid into the car. "I've done what he's doing, and it isn't easy," he said. "Besides, he was the best waiter I've ever seen."
"It's your money, I guess," Karen said.
Tommy drove out of the parking lot, turned down Main Street and drove past a line of car lots. "You know," he mused, "I wouldn't mind having a pickup like that one there." He indicated a bright red 4 X 4 with lots of shiny chrome accessories.
"No reason you can't have it," Karen said. "Not now."
Tommy was beginning to understand how the money Master Kwan left him could going to change his life, and he found the prospects more than a little exciting. There was little he wanted he couldn't have. He didn't have to work unless he wanted to, and he could probably have any woman he wanted. Well, almost any woman. Tina, the woman he really wanted, was interested in that asshole Greg.
When they got home they went into the house. The young man looked at his aunt, who was standing across the kitchen, studying him.
"A penny for your thoughts," she said.
